Cicuta Virosa cic.
Characteristic
Adapted to persons of a highly nervous organization. Women subject to epileptic and choreic con-vulsions; spasms of teething children, or from worms.
Convulsions: violent, with frightful distortions of the limbs and whole body; renewed from touch, noise or jar.
Epilepsy: with swelling of the stomach as from violent spasms of the diaphragm; screaming; red face; trismus; hic-cup; loss of consciousness and distortion of the limbs; fre-quent, during the night; recurring at first at short, then at long intervals.
Puerperal convulsions: frequent suspensions of breathing for a few moments; upper part of body most affected; con-tinue after delivery.
During dentition, grinding of the teeth or gums; com-pression of the jaws as in lockjaw.
Abnormal appetite for chalk and indigestible things; for coal or charcoal; child eats them with apparent relish (Alum., Psor.).
Suffer violent shocks through head, stomach, arms, legs, which cause jerkings of the parts; head hot.
Injurious chronic effects from concussions of the brain and spine, especially spasms; trismus and tetanus from getting splinters into flesh (Hyp.).
Aggravation
From tobacco smoke (Ign.); touch; jar.
Amelioration
In open air.
Type
Quotidian intermittent; periodicity not marked.
Time
Afternoon (2 to 3:30 P. M.) paroxysm.
Chill
And chilliness, with desire for warmth and to go to the warm stove (Lach.). The chilliness begins in the chest and extends down the legs and into the arms, after which follows a disposition to stare at one point. Icycoldness of the whole body; ears cold; cold sensation streams through lower legs, especially the right. The whole abdomen was cold. They all long for a warm stove (Bov., Ign., Lach.).
Heat
Without thirst; general of whole body; of single parts and special organs; in the chest and abdomen; in both legs. Sensation of hot water in the chest, arms, legs and ears; hot internally and externally. Burning and redness of the face. Constant desire for open air.
Sweat
On the abdomen; at night, and in the morning hours. Feels invigorated after.
Tongue
Swelling of the tongue. Thirst, with inability to swallow (Cimex).
The conditions calling for Cicuta are liable to occur during or following epidemic spinal meningitis. The chief symptom is the chill and coldness beginning in chest and extending downward.